U.K. Startup Gets $2.8M Grant for Wind Propulsion Tech on Commercial Ships

Maritime engineering startup WingTek has won a £2.2 million ($2.8 million) innovation grant to help develop their technology to use wind propulsion on commercial vessels. 

The company's "Wingsail" technology acts as a complement to a ship's existing fossil-fuel propulsion systems, designed to cut down on fuel use and emissions. 

With the grant awarded by the U.K.'s Department for Transport, WingTek will look to develop two operational prototypes — one on-shore for long-term testing and development, and another to be installed on a commercial U.K. ship for sea trials. The project is expected to be finished by March 2025. 

“Think of this as a renewable energy fuel saver for commercial ships,” WingTek managing director Neil Richards said. “Wind is free and available across the planet and can be harnessed by the world’s existing shipping fleets to reduce consumption of fossil fuels.”

Ultimately, the startup hopes to use wind power to cut down on the shipping industry's dependence on fossil fuels, while saving on overall fuel costs.